GERMAN 298 A: Topics in Literature and Culture

GERMAN 298 A / GLITS 313 A/ ITAL 354 A, Au2024

TuTh 2:30-3:50 pm, GUG 218       

Prof. Beatrice Arduini, barduini@uw.edu; OH: TTh 1:00-2:00 (PDL C-249) or by appointment via Zoom.                                                   

Prof. Annegret Oehme, oehme@uw.edu; OH: Tue 11:30 am-12:30 pm (Denny Hall 330), Wed 1-2 pm (via Zoom). Please sign up via https://oehme.youcanbook.me

TA: Sergen Avci, savci@uw.edu; OH: MW: 1:00-2:00 pm (PDL C—228).

Taught by Annegret Oehme and Beatrice Arduini, this class explores inflections of cross-cultural interactions in the Middle Ages as well as representations of "Otherness" in various cultural settings and discourses. Students will engage with a wide range of literary texts; explore how diversity and interconnectivity materialize in the contexts of politics, commerce, migration, religion, and similar philosophical and cultural frameworks; and examine how such ‘modern’ global phenomena, find root in the medieval period, defined here as the pre-1500 centuries. While focusing on German and Italian-speaking areas, we will take a critical view of Eurocentric approaches.

Note:

The syllabus is going to be available on Canvas and may be changed at any time if necessary.
We will communicate changes to the schedule via Canvas.

Participation and Classroom Environment

The success of this class depends on you sharing your own thoughts and questions. Don’t be shy and share your insights with all – this classroom serves as a space to discuss and learn together. To ensure success and provide a safe environment for everybody, all discussions are expected to be conducted in a respectful manner and in a professional behavior. Diverse experiences and perspectives have an important place in our classroom. We intend to present material in a respectful way regarding gender, sexuality, disability, socioeconomic status, age, culture, ethnicity, race, and disability. We want to create a welcoming and respectful learning environment together. By participating in this class, you are committing to establishing this classroom as a safe environment for everybody. No discriminatory behavior will be tolerated. 

Materials

All readings in English, available on Canvas.

Course-Level Objectives
Describe depictions of Otherness in diverse cultures and languages.
Explain the origins of these depictions.
Compare and contrast medieval, modern, and contemporary depictions.
Critically examine representations of Otherness in pre-modern sources. Contextualize diverse historic voices in dialogue.

Assignments

• Participation: Participation in class discussions, annotations, personal reflections, and in-class group work
  • • Collaborative Readings: This assignment will entail the discussion and annotations of 4 sets of our weekly reading assignments. You can take notes, underline words, phrases and passages you find especially beautiful or eloquent, or especially disturbing or confusing, and aspects that stimulate meaningful discussion, by using the annotation platform Hypothesis. Annotations may explain a term or concept in the text, or provide some context and comparisons with other readings. In short, be active readers of the assigned reading materials.
• Short (Mini) Paper: Each student will explore one of the topics from class in more depth, engaging thoroughly with two scholarly sources. The paper should be original and of a length of about 1200-1500 words, including footnotes. Follow either the MLA or Chicago style for citations.  You can choose either one of the suggested topics [see Topics and Suggested Materials for Exploration and Additional Resources] or propose a topic to the instructors ahead of time.
• Weekly, Short, Responses: Starting week 3, you will submit a short written reflection of 300-350 words, due Sundays 11:59 pm. You can choose between two prompts each week.  
• Final Project: see the assignment pages Manifold Project and Reflection Post. For project examples see Long Live Dante (Autumn 2023).

Assignments and Grade Breakdown

Participation / Class Preparation                                            20 %

Weekly, short responses                                                          30 %

Mini Paper                                                                                 20 %

Final Project                                                                              30 %

                                                                                                                   = 100 %

Academic Integrity

In order to foster your own learning and understanding of the material, you have to write your responses independently. Copying or largely paraphrasing another student’s response or other sources for assignments will count as cheating and will not be tolerated. In a case of plagiarism or cheating, we will follow UW’s procedures and report the case.

Communication and Office Hours

• We will communicate with you via email and Canvas. Please set your notifications on your account accordingly in order to get notified about important messages!
• We will try to respond to your messages within 24 hours of receipt during the week. If you email us Friday afternoon, we may not be able to respond until Monday.
•  Sign up for office hours with the reason for your visit here: https://oehme.youcanbook.me.
• We only respond to emails that include the address to a recipient (e.g. Dear Prof. Arduini / Oehme, Dear Sergen.…)

Accommodations

UW is committed to providing an equal educational opportunity for all students. If you have documented physical, psychological, or learning disability on file with UW, you may be eligible for reasonable academic accommodations to help you succeed in this course. If you have a documented disability that requires accommodation, please notify me within the first two weeks of the semester so that we may make appropriate arrangements early in the semester. (Additionally, if you have not done so, please register with DRS http://depts.washington.edu/uwdrs)

 Religious Accommodations  

“Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at Religious Accommodations Policy (https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/religious-accommodations-policy/). Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodations Request form (https://registrar.washington.edu/students/religious-accommodations-request/).”